Home record suppressor



11.13,- 1942. L, P TT 2,269,986

' HOME' RECORD SUPPRESSOR Filed June 29, 1939 INVENTOR. LOUIS M. P OTTS ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 13, 1942 2,269,986 HOME ascorm sorransson Louis M. Potts, Evanston, Ill., assignor to Teletype Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application June 29, 1939, Serial No. 281,765

13 Claims.

This invention relates to telegraph systems and more particularly to systems in which a transmitter and a recorder at one office are associated operatively with one or more remote transmitters and with one or more remote recorders.

In systems of the above type recorder at one oiiice operates as a recorder of received messages and operates also as a home recorder for messages transmitted by its directly associated transmitter. In such operation, a possible objection is that inward bound and outward bound messages may be confused, one for the other.

An object of this invention, therefore, is to prevent operation of a home recorder in response to its associated transmitter, yet to leave the recorder at all times responsive to any or all remotely connected transmitters. V

A further object is to provide means for causing the printer to effect home recording selectively.

A still further object is to estop not only recording but any other mechanical activity of the printer in response to its associated transmitter.

Means to efiect these objects include obstruction means to prevent operation of an operating mechanical member of the recorder, together with means controlled by the transmitter to render the obstruction means effective when the transmitter is operating, but to leave the obstruction means ineffective and to leave the printer fully operative in response to any and all remotely located transmitters when and while the associated home transmitter is inactive.

The invention will be more fully understood by reference to the appended specification and the accompanying drawing in which,

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of essential parts of one form of a recorder with mechanically controlled obstruction means;

Fig. 2 shows a modification having an electrically controlled mechanical obstruction means;

Fig. 3 shows a modification having electrical obstruction means;

Fig. 4 shows a further modification having electromagnetic obstruction means and showing also details of a transmitter; and

Fig. 5 shows a tape-controlled transmitter to which there have been added structural parts to embody the present invention therein.

In general, the scope of this invention extends to the provision and use of obstruction mean for recorders controlled by any type of receiving means, as electromagnets, relays or space discharge tubes or other means, and it is illustrated herein in its electromagnetic signal responsive style. The signal responsive armature may be obstructed mechanically by' a member positioned in the path of the armature or in the path of one of its associated mechanical members, or the signal receiving armature may be obstructed or detained against mechanical motion by supplying to its magnet additional currents supplementing the signal currents received from the telegraph line.

In Fig. 1 are shown essential parts of a recorder illustrated and described in U. S. Patent No. 1,904,164 granted to Morton et al. The magnet 9 and armature l2, striker H2, and starting latch pin III are indicated by like numerals in Figs. 4 and 21 of the noted patent, and the nature and operation of the several parts are fully described in the noted patent, together with further parts for efiecting' recording and other functions of the receiving mechanism.

Armature arm 20! is fixed upon armature I2 and is provided with the cam follower 42, as fully illustrated and described in U. S. Patent No. 1,937,376 granted to W. J. Zenner, and with spring 45, adjustable striker 46, and selector member 35, all as shown in the Zenner patent with like reference numerals. In operation, current constitutes a marking signal in magnet 9 and holds armature l2 attracted in marking position. Spring 45 holds member 35 in marking position against striker 46 and out of engagement with an obstruction member 202. Interruption of current in magnet 9 by control of a remote transmitter, not shown, constitutes a spacing signal in the magnet 9 and releases the armature l2 to be retracted into spacing position by a spring 2 l2. By passing into spacing position, the member 20! causes the adjustable striker H2 to push the latch pin l l I, which starts the associated selector, as fully described in the Morton et al. patent, and the selector member 35 is moved by striker 45 into spacing position, either near or in engagement with obstruction member 2532. In the operation of the selector, the armature lE-Will be returned toward the core of the magnet 9 by engagement of a cam (not shown) with follower 42, a fully described in theZenner patent.

Near the selector member 35 and pivoted on a post 293 is an obstruction member 202 with tail 2M and also on the same pivot post is a lock member 205 which, in one of its two positions, engages and restrains the obstruction member 282. Lock member 205 surrounds the pivot post 293 and has a handle which engages one or the other of the two limiting posts 206 and 281. A

decentering spring 208 sufiicient in tension to overpower a spring 2I I, holds the handle of the lock member 205 against either limiting post.

Transmitter cam H and follower I09, the latter having a locking blade I01, are shown in Fig. 1 with like numerals, as in U. S. Patent No. 1,965,572 granted to Burcky et al. and fully described therein, In response to operation of a transmitter key, not shown, the cam IIO rotates one revolution and operates the follower I09 accordingly. The cam end of follower I09 is connected through a link 209 to a bell crank 2I0 which engages tail 204 when link 209 is held by cam I I0 in normal or stop position as shown.

In operation for suppression of printing in response to associated transmitters, handle 205 is moved manually to engage post 206, thus removing locking member 205 from the path of obstruction member 202 and permitting spring 2II to move the member 202 until tail 204 engages bell crank 2I0 and is stopped by the engagement of follower I09 with cam III). Spring 2 is sufficient in tension to overpower the spring 2I2. Operation of a transmitter key will cause one rotation of cam IIO, releasing the follower I09, link 209, bell crank 2I0, and obstruction memher 202, whereupon the obstruction member moves to engage and hold the selector member 35 which, through striker 46, holds armature I2 during the spacing intervals of code currents through magnet 9 in the transmitted code signal, the cam IIO then restoring the obstruction member 202 to normal or first described position after cessation of the last selecting impulse of the signal. peated for each code signal of the transmitter cam III].

Fig. 2 illustrates a modification in which the means by which the transmitter cam controls the bstruction member of the recorder is in part electromagnetic. Transmitter cam 220 operates follower 22I to close the contacts 222 while the cam is being rotated and to hold the contacts 222 open while the cam is stopped in the normal position shown. vided with an armature 224 tensioned by spring 225 and normally enters and obstructs the path of selected member 226 when the armature 224 is attracted by its magnet 221, energized by battery 228 in response to closure of contacts 222. Upon beginning of rotation of the transmitter cam 220, the contacts 222 are closed first and before beginning of the starting impulse and remain closed until after transmission of the last character code impulse, thus energizing the mageither by current in the line signaling circuit, or

by magnet 221 connecting mechanically through armature 224, obstruction member 223, and se lector member 226. (The utility of this modification is for use where the transmitter is a separate unit from the printer.)

In Fig. 3, the magnet 23I corresponding to magnet 9 of Fig. 1 is responsive to signals generated in line 232 and also is responsive to currents in a local circuit 234 controlled by contacts 235 under control of transmitter cam 236 and follower 231. In operation, when cam 236 is in rotation, the contacts 235 are closed thereby, thus supplying current to magnet 23I through the circuit 234 and rendering the magnet 23I This complete cycle is re- Obstruction member 223 is prounresponsive to spacing signals generated by the associated transmitter 238.

Fig. 4 illustrates a transmitter of the noted U. S. Patent No. 1,965,572 granted to Burchy et al. in combination with a recorder magnet 25I provided with a line winding 252 and a local winding 253. To the cams shown in Patent No. ,965,572 is added a cam 254, a follower 255, and cam controlled contacts 256 which are included in a circuit in series with battery 251 and the local winding 253. Cams 258 and followers 259 operate contacts 260 to generate the holding impulse or stop impulse of a start-stop code signal.

Design and adjustment of cams 254-258 and followers 255-459 are such that after beginning rotation of the cams, the contacts 256 initiate a current in local winding 253 before contacts 260 open the circuit of line 26I, to deprive line winding 252 of current, the current in winding 253 thus overlapping the current in winding 252 and preventing release of selector armature 262. Before the end of rotation of the cams, contacts 260 close to initiate a stop signal before the contacts 256 open to terminate the current in local winding 253, thus overlapping the currents in the two windings and preventing the release of selector armature 262. In operation of a receiving recorder in response to signals generated remotely in the line 26I, the cam 254 is at rest and no current flows in local winding 253, the selector armature 262 being fully responsive to the line winding 252. In operation of the transmitter 250, the overlap of currents in windings 252 and 253 controlled by contacts 260 and 256, respectively, provide for continuous energization of the magnet 25I and the armature 262 is accordingly wholly unresponsive to spacing signals, thus producing no record.

In Fig. 5 is illustrated circuits for a structure having a tape-controlled transmitter and embodying the invention. A line magnet 210 of two windings 21I and 212 controls a selector armature 213. A tape senser 214 is connected through a start-stop distributor 215 and through winding 21I to line 216 for transmission of signal impulses from battery 211. A local disabling circuit includes battery 211, cam-controlled contacts 218, manual switch 219, and winding 212. Contacts 218 are controlled by cam 280 on the start-stop brush shaft of distributor 215 in such manner that the circuit of local winding 212 is open when and while the brush shaft is in its stop position and is closed continuously while the start-stop shaft is in its rotational positions for transmission of signaling impulses. In operation, the transmitting distributor 215 will transmit continuous current through winding 212 while transmitting commutated currents through winding 21I, thus holding the armature 213 attracted at all times and rendering the associated selector wholly unresponsive to the signaling currents generated by the transmitter. To render the selector responsive, the manual switch 219 in the circuit of winding 212 may be opened.

To effect home recording in the structure of Fig. 1, the handle of lock member 205 is moved to engage the limiting post 201, as shown, thus causing the lock member to engage the obstruction member 292 to prevent it from responding to the movements of cam follower I09. The member 202 therefore exercises no control over the selector member 35, which responds to all signal impulses in the magnet 9 including the impulses generated by the associated home transmitter of which cam I I0 forms a part.

To effect-home recording in the structure of Fig 2, manual switch 212 is opened, leaving magnet 221 permanently unenergized. Spring 225 holds obstruction member 223 away from selector member 226 which responds to all line signal impulses including impulses generated by the associated home transmitter of which cam 22!] forms a part.

To efiect home recording in the structure of Fig. 3, manual switch 213 is opened, rendering the selector magnet 23l responsive to all signal impulses in line 232 including impulses generated by the home transmitter 238.

To effect home recording in the structure of Fig. 4, manual switch 214 is opened, estopping all local currents from winding 253 and rendering the selector armature 262 responsive to all signal impulses in line 26! and winding 252, including signal impulses generated by the home transmitter 250.

The invention has been described above as embodied in several specific forms of apparatus. However, the scope of the invention is expressed only in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination of a signal generator, a recorder associated therewith and normally responsive thereto, and means associated with said generator and said recorder and controlled by said generator to render all mechanism of said recorder unresponsive to signals generated by said generator.

2. The combination of a keyboard signal generator, a recorder associated therewith and normally responsive thereto, and means associated with said signal generator and said recorder and controlled by said signal generator to render all mechanism of said recorder unresponsive to signals generated by said generator.

3. In a telegraph set, a signal generator, a recorder normally responsive thereto, a selector member in said recorder, a lock for said selector member, and means controlled by said generator to render said lock operative whereby said selector member does not respond to signals gen erated through the operation of the signal generator.

4. In a telegraph set, a signal generator, a recorder normally responsive thereto, mech'anical means in said recorder, a lock for said mechanical means, and means controlled by said generator to render said lock operative whereby said selector member does not respond to signals generated through the operation of the signal generator.

5. In a telegraph set, a signal generator, a recorder normally responsive thereto, a selector member in said recorder, disabling means for said selector member, and mean-s controlled by said generator to render said disabling .means operative whereby said selector member does not respond to signals generated through the operation of the signal generator.

6. In a telegraph set, a recorder, a selector member in said recorder, a transmitter, a cam in said transmitter, a follower for said cam in off-normal position while said transmitter is transmitting signaling impulses, and mechanical linkage between said cam and said member controlled by said cam to lock said member whereby said selector member does not respond to signals generated through the operation of the signal generator.

7. In a telegraph set, a recorder, a selector member in said recorder, a. transmitter, a cam in said transmitter, a follower for said cam in offnormal position While said transmitter is transmitting signaling impulses, mechanical linkage between said cam and said member controlled by said cam to lock said member, and means for locking said linkage against response to control by said cam whereby said selector member does not respond to signals generated through the operation of the signal generator.

8. In a telegraph set, a recorder, a. selector magnet in said recorder, a transmitter, a cam and its cam follower in said transmitter, said cam follower being in off-normal position when and while said transmitter is transmitting signaling implulses, electrical contacts operable by said cam follower, and a selector-controlling circuit including said contacts and a winding in said magnet.

9. In a telegraph system, a, telegraph line, a telegraph selector connected to said line, means at said selector and connected to the same end of said line for generating signals for operating said selector to which means said selector normally is not responsive, further means at the opposite end of said line for generating signals for operating said selector to which further means said selector at all times is responsive, and means for rendering said selector responsive to said first mentioned means.

10. In a start-stop telegraph system, a line circuit, a transmitting apparatus in said line circuit for transmitting telegraphic start and character impulses, a remote transmitting apparatus in said line circuit, a recorder in said line circuit normally responsive to telegraphic start and character impulses from either of said transmitting apparatuses, and means for rendering said recorder unresponsive to all transmitted start and character impulses from said first mentioned apparatus while at the same time maintaining said recorder responsive to all start and character impulses from said second mentioned apparatus.

11. The combination of a tape-controlled signal generator, a recorder associated therewith and normally responsive thereto, and means associated with said generator and said recorder and controlled by signals from said generator to render said recorder under predetermined conditions unresponsive to signals generated by said generator.

12. In a telegraph system, a transmitter for generating signals, a recorder including selectively positionable elements responsive to signals, and means operated by said transmitter for rendering the elements of said recorder nonresponsive for selective operation to all signals generated by said transmitter.

13. In a telegraph system, a line conductor, a printing telegraph receiver connected to said line conductor, means also connected to the same point of said line conductor as said receiver for generating signals for operating said printing telegraph receiver, means operative by the signal generating means whereby said receiver under certain" conditions does not respond to signals I and under other conditions does respond to said signals generated by said signal generating means, and other means at the opposite end of said line conductor for generating. signals to which said receiver is responsive at all times.

LOUIS M. POTTS. 

